11th September, 2023
Napoleon Bali, the senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District has lost the senate seat he won as a candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, in the February 25 election to Simon Lalong of All Progressives Congress, APC.
The National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Jos, Plateau State, declared Lalong, who was governor of the state when he contested against Bali after describing votes given to the PDP candidate as wasted.
According to the chairman of the three-member panel, Justice Mahmoud Tukur the votes scored by the PDP candidate were wasted votes as he was invalidly nominated.
This, the tribunal said was because as the time of the time of the nomination, the PDP had no valid structure in the state.
However, the tribunal dismissed claims of over-voting and non-compliance with the electoral laws, as in its words, the petitioners could not prove the allegations.
Also, the PDP lost the Barkin-Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency seat to Labour Party (LP) candidate Dalyop Chollom.
According to the tribunal, Peter Gyenden of the PDP was not validly nominated because at the time of his nomination, the party’s no valid structure in the state.